Since opening in 2002 this leafy retreat on Kreuzberg hill in the Saarland has become an insider's tip for garden enthusiasts and anyone wanting a break from the hustle and bustle.

'Gardens without Limits' is a recently established project in the region where Germany, France and Luxembourg meet. The largest member is the Garden of the Senses in the small Saarland town of Merzig. Its eleven themed gardens within a succession of hedge-lined sections are laid out – as the name suggests – in a way that appeals to all the senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and even taste – because even flowers can be eaten. The theme of water, a vital element in any garden, is established by a geometric, modern-art sculpture right by the entrance to the garden. In the garden of sounds, you can create your own music using a variety of objects – or just listen to them playing in the wind. The garden of colours has flowers of every hue and illustrates the effects of combining different colours. The gravel garden, the largest of the gardens, has a special microclimate with sun-loving herbaceous perennials flowering profusely in the summer. In the touch garden, you are actually encouraged to touch the plants. Its pathways lead past closely arranged plantbeds offering a range of tactile experiences – from pin-sharp pine needles and prickly teasels to super-soft grasses. The rose garden is so peaceful and pretty that visitors are often reluctant to tear themselves away. The beauty of the flowers is enhanced by a pot-pourri of the sweetest fragrances which waft through the garden in the summer months. Cultural and culinary events, some held in the small amphitheatre, awaken the senses and bring people together, underlining precisely what makes the Garden of the Senses such an essential attraction. Nearby attractions: the Benedictine Abbey in Mettlach is still the headquarters of the famous Villeroy & Boch ceramics company. As the seasons change, so do the colours and forms of the Villeroy & Boch Abbey Garden with its many and diverse trees. The Old Tower, dating back more than 1,000 years, is the oldest religious building in the Saarland.